Page 197 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

DYNAMIC EQUIVALENCY

This was stated in the UBS publication Bible their workers are using on the fields. Wycliffe supports
Translator, No. 23, 1972, pages 220, 223. This was the TEV and the dynamic equivalency methods
further confirmed by correspondence with Bible Society underlying it. The fonts they have developed for laser
leaders. In August 1987 I received a letter from British printers are distributed with a sample text file of the
and Foreign Bible Society leader Geoff Horner. He book of Titus from the TEV. We further see what
wrote, “...virtually all translations being carried out at Wycliffe thinks of dynamic equivalency by quoting one
present directly by UBS are CLT’s [common language of their chief translators in regard to the Living Bible.
translations].” John Beekman, translations coordinator for the
This statement becomes even more significant when worldwide ministry of Wycliffe, made this statement:
we consider that as of 1985 the United Bible Societies “The Living Bible is the most readable and the most
were involved in translation work in 544 languages natural English translation available. The fast-growing
(Bulletin, United Bible Societies, World Annual Report ministry of Living Bibles International is worthy of the
1985, p. 175). At their council meeting in Chiang Mai, prayer support of all of us” (William F. Kerr, The Living
Thailand, in 1980, the Bible Societies accepted the goal Bible—Not Just Another Version).
of producing common language translations of the Bible How influential is Wycliffe? According to an undated
and a full series of New Readers materials in 227 major brochure published by Wycliffe and distributed at the
languages of the world by the end of the decade. July 1987, North American Congress on the Holy Spirit
To further illustrate how strongly the TEV is and World Evangelization, Wycliffe has been involved in
promoted by the Bible Societies, we refer to the 1987 a total of 1,105 language translation projects. The New
catalog for the British and Foreign Bible Society. Of the Testament has been completed in more than 250
Bibles and Scripture portions listed, 272 are TEV, while languages, and more than 800 translation projects are
only 34 are the KJV. in progress.
Robert Bratcher, key translator of the TEV, is today a This represents a massive influence, but Wycliffe’s
principal translations coordinator for the United Bible influence is spread much further than their own work
Societies and is busy training men in dynamic indicates. They are responsible for much of the training
equivalency methods. Like Nida, Bratcher is a of professional Bible translators from other groups,
theological liberal, as are practically all the men who including those with the United Bible Societies, with
have developed the principles of dynamic equivalency denominational translation projects, even some
or common language translation. This will be shown fundamental groups. This vast influence is gained
later in the article. through their Summer Institute of Linguistics training
school in Texas and the various programs associated
Thus we see that the enormous resources of the UBS with it.
are today almost wholly dedicated to the production of
the equivalent of the dynamic equivalency TEV in non- In addition, some Wycliffe people have written
English languages. training materials used broadly by professional
translators. Eugene Nida, the guru of dynamic
Living Bibles International. As of 1990 more than 36 equivalency, started his ministry with Wycliffe Bible
million copies of the Living Bible in all editions had Translators in the 1930s, though for many decades he
been sold” (Charisma, December 1990, p. 5). When an has been a chief translation’s consultant with the United
edition of the Living Bible was marketed through Bible Societies. John Beekman and John Callow, both
secular booksellers, it sold two million copies the first with Wycliffe, have authored materials which present
year (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Mar. 20, 1985). classic dynamic equivalency methods and which are
Its coffers full through the sale of Living Bibles, LBI used widely by professional translators across all
has dedicated its vast resources to the production of the denominational and doctrinal lines. Many others could
equivalent of the Living Bible in non-English languages. be mentioned.
Their goal is massive. By 1992, Living Bibles Through these materials, the Summer Institute of
International is determined to produce the Living Bible Linguistics, and the translation labors of their workers,
in every major language of the world. As of 1986 they Wycliffe’s influence is massive.
had either completed or were working on 144 such
projects (Living Bibles International, Vol. 3 No. 1, 1986). Thus we see that the three largest Bible translation
All of these translations are dynamic equivalency and publishing organizations in the world are
versions. committed to dynamic equivalency.
Wycliffe Bible Translators. Wycliffe also has adopted ERRORS OF DYNAMIC EQUIVALENCY
the dynamic equivalency method of translation. This is Following are some of the major errors of the
the method they teach at their schools and the method dynamic equivalency method of Bible translation:

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 197